The Biggest Menopause Skincare Mistake You’re Probably Still Making
There’s no sugar-coating it: our skin changes with age, and for females, the hormonal shifts that come with menopause can dramatically alter how our skin looks, feels and behaves. But here’s the truth most people overlook: the biggest menopause skincare mistake isn’t doing “too little” or “too late” – it’s treating your skin like it’s still 30.
That’s right. The most common menopause skincare mistake is failing to adapt your skincare routine to your skin’s new reality.
Why Your Old Skincare Routine No Longer Works
Menopause brings about a significant decline in oestrogen, a hormone that plays a vital role in maintaining the skin’s structure, hydration, and resilience. It’s also a key player in sebum production, collagen synthesis, and epidermal turnover. When oestrogen levels drop, everything slows down. The skin becomes thinner, drier, and more prone to inflammation, sensitivity, and pigmentation.
Yet, most women continue using the same products they’ve relied on for years – some even doubling down on harsh actives in an attempt to “fix” what is, in fact, just biology. This one-size-fits-all mindset is not only ineffective; it can actually accelerate visible signs of ageing.
What are the Biggest Changes to Skin During Menopause?
Hormonal shifts vary for each woman, but some common skin concerns during menopause include:
- Dryness and flakiness
- Dull, uneven tone
- Loss of firmness or sagging
- Adult acne or breakouts
- Redness and increased sensitivity
- Broken capillaries or rosacea-like flare-ups
Beyond that, there are two universal changes everyone experiences:
- A decline in hyaluronic acid production (hello dehydration and loss of plumpness)
- A weakened skin barrier, making skin more vulnerable to environmental damage
The good news? Your skin is still incredibly responsive – it just needs a smarter, more compassionate approach.
10 Skincare Mistakes Women in Menopause Commonly Make
Let’s break down the most common menopause skincare mistakes – and how to avoid them.
- Not Updating Your Routine
Treating your skin the same way you did a decade ago? Your skin isn’t the same, and your routine shouldn’t be either. Menopausal skin has unique needs, and ignoring them can lead to more irritation, dullness and even premature ageing.
Switch it up: Upgrade to barrier-repairing, hydrating, antioxidant-rich formulas that work with your skin’s slower rhythms, not against them. We recommend Nutritive Repair Emulsion.
- Overdoing Exfoliation
Skin turnover slows with age, but trying to force it with harsh scrubs or frequent acids is a recipe for barrier damage. You might get a temporary glow, but long-term, it causes redness, flaking and inflammation.
Try this instead: Use natural alternatives like activated charcoal and clays (Charcoal Peace Calming Cleanser) or limit acid-based products to once a week. Let skin recovery guide your routine, not a calendar.
- Skipping SPF
It’s non-negotiable at any age, but even more crucial post-menopause. UV rays are the main driver of hyperpigmentation, collagen breakdown, and uneven skin tone – all of which worsen with hormonal changes.
Best pick: Try Artemisia Power Protection Moisturiser SPF50+ (or its tinted version), a mineral-based sunscreen with added antioxidants for daily protection and repair.
- Using Harsh or Drying Cleansers
Some formulas can strip already-dry, menopausal skin of its remaining oils, exacerbating tightness, irritation and redness.
Upgrade to: A creamy, replenishing cleanser like Purifying Cleansing Beauty Cream or the ultra-soothing Dara’s Water for sensitive skin.
- Skipping Serums with Targeted Actives
This is the time to get smart about ingredients. Focus on serums that address menopausal concerns directly, such as pigmentation, laxity, and inflammation.
Power players:
- Ideal Brightening Corrective Serum (for even tone + radiance)
- Ideal Rebalancing Level Serum (for hormonal acne + barrier support)
- Plant Perfection Gel Serum (for collagen support + firming)
- Thinking Oils Are Only for Dry Skin
Face oils can rebalance combination or oily menopausal skin by strengthening barrier function and improving sebum quality.
Top pick: Intelligent Frontier Facial Oil – lightweight, nutrient-rich and ideal for skin that’s both breakout-prone and maturing.
- Using Retinol Without a Plan
Retinol may be the gold standard in anti-ageing, but it’s not for everyone, especially if your skin is sensitive or already compromised.
Kinder alternative: Look for products with Bidens pilosa, like Plant Perfection Gel Serum – it mimics retinoid effects without the irritation.
- Ignoring the Neck and Jawline
The Y-zone (jaw, chin, neck) often shows sagging first, thanks to gravity, posture and sun exposure. But most women neglect this area until it’s too late.
What helps: Collagen-boosting peptides like palmitoyl tetrapeptide-72 amide and microalgae extracts can lift and firm over time. Include your neck in every step of your routine (found in Plant Perfection Gel Serum).
- Using Makeup That’s Not Ideal
Heavy foundations and mattifying powders can settle into fine lines and emphasise texture. Menopausal skin needs light, hydrating coverage.
Glow tip: Opt for tinted moisturisers or light bases with added skincare benefits. A natural self-tanner like Glow Island adds radiance without stress.
- Focusing Only on Wrinkles Instead of Skin Health
Let’s stop chasing wrinkle-erasing miracles and start focusing on what really matters: skin resilience, radiance and comfort.
A healthy skin barrier, even tone, and long-term collagen support will do more for your appearance than any anti-ageing gimmick.
The New Skincare Philosophy: Ageing Well, Not Fighting It
We’re proud never to have used the term “anti-ageing” at Twelve Beauty. Why? Because there’s nothing to fight. Beauty doesn’t peak – it evolves. The healthiest skin isn’t wrinkle-free; it’s supported, nourished, and resilient at every stage of life.
Here’s what ageing-well looks like in practice:
- An even skin tone: Free from inflammation, dark spots and dullness
- A strong barrier: Protected against environmental stressors
- A firmer appearance: Thanks to ongoing collagen and elastin support
- A calmer complexion: Able to handle hormonal shifts without constant breakouts
By shifting your mindset – and your routine – you can create skin that looks luminous not despite menopause, but because you’ve finally started listening to what it needs.
Embrace the Shift
The real menopause skincare mistake isn’t ageing – it’s ignoring what your skin is trying to tell you.
This season of life is an invitation to slow down, nourish deeply, and reframe beauty as something you grow into, not out of.
If you take one thing from this, your skin isn’t failing. It’s evolving. And it’s never too late to evolve with it.
